AFROTROPICAL BUTTERFLIES. MARK C. WILLIAMS. http://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb Updated 27 December 2020

Genus Aterica Boisduval, 1833 Glade Nymphs

Nouvelles Annales du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris 2: 195 (149-270). Type-species: Aterica rabena Boisduval, by monotypy.

The genus Aterica belongs to the Family Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815; Subfamily Limenitidinae Behr, 1864; Tribe Adoliadini Doubleday, 1845; Subtribe Bebearina Hemming, 1960. The other genera in the Subtribe Bebearina in the Afrotropical Region are Evena, Pseudargynnis, Cynandra, Euryphura, Euryphaedra, Euryphurana, Euphaedra, Euriphene, Bebearia, Euptera and Pseudathyma.

Aterica (Glade Nymphs) is an Afrotropical genus containing two species. Generic review by Bernardi (1974).

*Aterica galene (Brown, 1776) Forest Glade Nymph

Left: Male Forest-glade Nymph (Aterica galene extensa). Kibale Forest, Uganda. October 2014. Image courtesy Raimund Schutte. Right: Female Forest-glade Nymph (Aterica galene galene). Ankasa, Ghana. Image courtesy Pamela Sai.

Papilio galene Brown, 1776. New Illustrations of Zoology containing fifty coloured plates of new curious, and Non-Descript Birds, with a few Quadrupeds, Reptiles and Insects. Together with a short scientific description of the same, London: 94 (136 pp.). London. Aterica galene (Brown, 1776). Pringle et al., 1994: 106.

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Aterica galene galene. Male (Wingspan 46 mm). Left: upperside; right: underside. Biakpa Mountain Paradise, Ghana. 24 November 2011. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Aterica galene galene. Female (Wingspan 68 mm). Left: upperside; right: underside. Biakpa Mountain Paradise, Ghana. 23 November 2011. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Type locality: No locality given. Diagnosis: The colour of the patch on the hindwing upperside in females is variable – it may be white, or more commonly, yellow to brown (Pringle et al., 1994). Distribution: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau (Bacelar, 1949), Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin (Fermon et al., 2001), Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe. Habitat: Forest and heavy woodland (Kielland, 1990d; Heath et al., 2002). In Tanzania the nominate subspecies occurs at altitudes from 800 to 2 200 m and subspecies theophane from near sea-level to 1 800 m (Kielland, 1990d). It can withstand considerable habitat degradation (Larsen, 2005a). Habits: A common butterfly (Larsen, 2005a). Flies through the forest undergrowth or in glades, often settling on the ground or low vegetation. Males often bask in shafts of sunlight (Larsen, 2005a). The flight is not particularly fast, and is close to the ground, but it is a wary insect. Males mud-puddle and both sexes are attracted to fermenting fruit (Kielland, 1990d; Pringle et al., 1994). Females may be mimics of Amauris species (Eltringham, 1910; Bernardi, 1974) but Larsen (2005a) is doubtful about this. Flight period: Flies all year (Pringle et al., 1994). Early stages:

Van Someren, 1939.

Mullin, in Pringle et al., 1994: 106 [as Aterica galene theophane; locality not noted].

Amiet, 1999 [larva and pupa].

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Larval food: Combretum microphyllum Klotzsch (Combretaceae) [Mullin, in Pringle et al., 1994: 106; as Combretum paniculatum]. Combretum indicum (L.) DeFilipps (Combretaceae) [Sevastopulo, vide Van Someren, 1974: 322; as Quisqualis indica (= littorea (Engler) Excell)]. Salacighia species (Hippocrateaceae) [Amiet, 1999]. Scotellia species (Flacourtiaceae) [Vauttoux & Blandin, 1979; Ivory Coast]. Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (Combretaceae) [Vuattoux & Blandin, 1979; Ivory Coast; as Terminalia glaucescens].

Aterica galene galene (Brown, 1776) Forest Glade Nymph

Papilio galene Brown, 1776. New Illustrations of Zoology containing fifty coloured plates of new curious, and Non-Descript Birds, with a few Quadrupeds, Reptiles and Insects. Together with a short scientific description of the same, London: 94 (136 pp.). London.

Aterica galene galene. Male (Wingspan 46 mm). Left: upperside; right: underside. Biakpa Mountain Paradise, Ghana. 24 November 2011. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Aterica galene galene. Female (Wingspan 68 mm). Left: upperside; right: underside. Biakpa Mountain Paradise, Ghana. 23 November 2011. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Type locality: No locality given. Distribution: Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau (Bacelar, 1949), Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin (south, central), Nigeria, Cameroon (west).

3 Specific localities: Guinea – Ziama (Safian et al., 2020). Liberia – Wologizi (Safian et al., 2020); Wonegizi (Safian et al., 2020). Ghana – Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary (Larsen et al., 2007); Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (Larsen et al., 2009). Benin – Noyau Central, Lama Forest (Fermon et al., 2001); Lokoli (Tchibozo et al., 2008); Houeyogbe Forest (Coache & Rainon, 2016); see Coache et al., 2017. Nigeria – Okwangwo (Larsen, 2005a). Cameroon – Barombi Station (Bartel, 1905); Korup (Larsen, 2005a).

cupavia Cramer, 1779 in Cramer, [1779-80] (as sp. of Papilio). Die Uitlandsche Kapellen voorkomende in de drie waerrelddeelen Asia, Africa en America 3: 2 (176 pp.). Amsteldam & Utrecht. “Cote de Guinée”; Sierra Leone: “Sierra Leona”.

buchholzi Plötz, 1880 (as sp. of Aterica?). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 41: 193 (189-206). “Mungo”.

dimorpha Bartel, 1905 (as female f. of Aterica galene). Novitates Zoologicae 12: 138 (129-152). Cameroon: “Kamerun (Barombi-Station)”.

albimacula Joicey & Talbot, 1921 (as f. of Aterica galene). Bulletin of the Hill Museum, Witley 1: 56 (40- 166). No locality given.

Aterica galene extensa Heron, 1909 Congo Forest Glade Nymph

Aterica galene extensa Heron, 1909. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 19: 153 (141-178). Synonym of Aterica galene galene. Ackery et al., 1995. Aterica galene extensa Heron, 1909. Larsen, 2005a.

Aterica galene extensa. Male (Wingspan 53 mm). Left: upperside; right: underside. Mabira Forest, Uganda. 28 December 2008. P. Ward. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

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Aterica galene extensa. Female. Left – upperside; right- underside. Libreville, Gabon. 12 June 2016. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Type locality: [Democratic Republic of Congo]: “Mokia, S.E. Ruwenzori”. Distribution: Cameroon (except west), Equatorial Guinea (Bioko), Gabon, Congo, Angola, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya (west), Tanzania (west), Zambia. Specific localities: Cameroon – N’ginda (Schultze, 1920). Gabon – Throughout the forested parts of the country (Vande weghe, 2010). Central African Republic – Dzanga (Noss, 1998). Democratic Republic of Congo – Duma (Schultze, 1920); Luebo, Kasai (Dufrane, 1933); Ituri Forest (Ducarme, 2018); Semuliki Valley (Ducarme, 2018); Central Forest Block (Ducarme, 2018); Mt Mitumba (Ducarme, 2018); Mt Blue (Ducarme, 2018). Uganda – Semuliki N.P. (Davenport & Howard, 1996); Mpanga Forest, Mpigi; Kibale Forest (R. Schutte, unpublished). Tanzania – Western areas, from Ufipa to the Ugandan border (Kielland, 1990d); Katavi National Park (Fitzherbert et al., 2006). Zambia – Ikelenge; Kasangezhi; Mufulira; Mbala (Heath, et al., 2002).

luteofasciata Schultze, 1920 (as ab. of Aterica galene). Ergebnisse der Zweiten Deutschen Zentral-Afrika- Expedition 1 (14): 774 (639-829). [Democratic Republic of Congo]: “Belg. Kongo: Duma (Ubangi-Distr.)”; Cameroon: “Süd-Kamerun: N’ginda”.

juncta Dufrane, 1933 (as ab. of Aterica galene galene). Lambillionea 33: 165 (164-166). “Congo”.

pierardi Dufrane, 1933 (as f. of Aterica galene galene). Lambillionea 33: 166 (164-166). [Democratic Republic of Congo]: “Luebo, Kasai”.

Aterica galene incisa Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 Ethiopian Forest Glade Nymph

Aterica galena [sic] incisa Rothschild & Jordan, 1903. Novitates Zoologicae 10: 537 (491-542).

Type locality: [Ethiopia]: “between Kankati and Djibbe, Djimma”. Distribution: Ethiopia. Specific localities: Ethiopia – between Kankati and Djibbe (TL); Djimma (Rothschild & Jordan, 1903).

5 Aterica galene theophane Hopffer, 1855 Eastern Forest Glade Nymph

Aterica theophane Hopffer, 1855. Berichte über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1855: 641 (639-643). Aterica galene theophane Hopffer, 1855. Dickson & Kroon, 1978. Aterica galene theophane Hopffer, 1855. Pringle et al., 1994: 106.

Aterica galene theophane. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Rusito Forest, Zimbabwe. 6 May 1996. Images M.C. Williams ex J. Greyling Collection.

Type locality: Mozambique: “Mossambique”. Diagnosis: Compared to the nominate subspecies, the male has a darker hind wing patch and the female has a larger hind wing patch, which is white, yellowish or reddish yellow (Kielland, 1990d). Distribution: Kenya (coast), Tanzania (coast), Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe (east). Specific localities: Kenya – coastal forests (Larsen, 1991c); Shimba Hills (Larsen, 1991c). Tanzania – Madiengo (Strand, 1911); Coast (Kielland, 1990d); Nguu Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Nguru Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Ukaguru Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Uzungwa Rift (Kielland, 1990d); Tukuyu (Kielland, 1990d). Malawi – Chaipaika Estate, Bandawe (Rothschild, 1918); Parambira (Rothschild, 1918); Mt Mulanje (Congdon et al., 2010). Mozambique – Dondo Forest (Pringle et al., 1994); Savane Forest (Pringle et al., 1994); Amatongas (Pringle et al., 1994); Maronga Forest (Pringle et al., 1994); Buzi (Pringle et al., 1994); Mt Mabu (Congdon et al., 2010). Zimbabwe – Mutare (Pringle et al., 1994); Mount Selinda (Pringle et al., 1994).

dechroma Strand, 1911 (as ab. of Aterica galene). Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 5: 287 (275-304). Tanzania: “Madiengo”.

omissa Rothschild, 1918 (as ssp. of Aterica galene). Novitates Zoologicae 25: 340 (338-345). Malawi: “Chaipaika Estate, Bandawe, Nyassaland”; “Parambira, Lake Nyassa”.

*Aterica rabena Boisduval, 1833 Malagasy Glade Nymph

Aterica rabena Boisduval, 1833. Nouvelles Annales du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris 2: 195 (149-270).

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Aterica rabena. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Isalo, Madagascar. 20 March 2016. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Aterica rabena. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Zombitse, Madagascar. 16 April 2018. J. Lawrence. Images M.C. Williams ex Lawrence Collection.

Type locality: Madagascar: “Tintingue, Tamatave [Toamasina] et Sainte-Marie”. Distribution: Madagascar. Specific localities: Madagascar – Tintingue (TL); Toamasina (Boisduval, 1833); Sainte-Marie (Boisduval, 1833); Isalo (J. & C. Dobson, unpub.). Habitat: Forest (Lees et al., 2003). Early stages:

Congdon et al., 2017 [final instar larva].

Larval food: Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae) [Congdon et al., 2017; Maraonsetra, Madagascar].

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